The Unfortunate Fate of Home-Invading Bears

Nine bear sightings were recorded from June 8 to 18 near Littleton’s Roxborough Park community, where officials posted a warning sign for residents. Nevertheless, in the early morning hours of June 18, a bear entered the home of resident Vickie Ockey. Similar to a spate of bear break-ins last year in Aspen, the bear helped itself to a late-night snack in the kitchen—a behavior the bear likely learned from its mother, says Jennifer Churchill with the Colorado Division of Wildlife. That’s why the bear was euthanized, according to 9News. A second bear that broke into a different home in the same neighborhood earlier this week has also been euthanized. And yet another bear has met the same fate in Sedalia, a frustration to DOW officials, who have some advice on how to bear-proof your home. Meanwhile, 5280 senior associate editor Patrick Doyle has some tips for how to avoid bears in the wilderness and what to do if you encounter one—or a mountain lion.